Police investigate girl's disappearance from riverside

Police are investigating possible foul play in the disappearance of a 7-year-old girl who went missing from Phnom Penh’s riverside on Friday.

The girl, Sang Hong, was last seen about 7am by her mother, Leav Lim, 43, being led away by a boy she described as being in his early teens. She said she had seen the boy for the first time on Thursday evening.

“He said he was from Kampot, that his step-mother hurt him too much so he came to Phnom Penh,” she said yesterday. “I pitied him and let him sleep on our rug. He had effeminate mannerisms, three rotten front teeth, very short hair, knee-length black trousers and a red football shirt.”

Lim, Hong and her 8-year-old brother have been living on the streets around riverside for seven years.

Chey Sophoeun, deputy chief of justice for Phsar Kandal I commune, where Lim made the initial report of her daughter’s abduction, said it was the first reported in the commune. However, he did note that on previous occasions Hong had been taken to his police post after getting lost.

Larry, a local business owner who asked to be referred to by his first name only, said he had been supporting Lim and her children for a year and a half.

Having reported her daughter missing, Lim came to Larry’s restaurant shortly after lunchtime on Friday, he said.

“She was totally broken up,” said Larry, who described Hong as, “a very vibrant, happy girl. She’s just a very, very nice little kid.”

Larry then contacted James McCabe, director of the Child Protection Unit (CPU), an NGO that works closely with the National Police in cases of violence against children.

McCabe said last night that the CPU and the police were investigating all possibilities, adding that there were “genuine concerns” for Hong’s welfare.

“There will be a significant police presence on both sides of the river on Monday morning,” McCabe said. “One of the things we will be doing tomorrow is reaching out to NGOs that deal with street children and asking them to keep an eye out as well.”

Anyone with information that might lead to Hong’s recovery is encouraged to contact local police or to call the CPU’s hotline on 078 959 090.

MOST VIEWED

Caretaker prime minister Hun Sen used a meeting with 18,400 factory workers on Wednesday to predict that he would beat the record for being the world’s longest-serving non-royal leader.
He also used the platform to slam political opponent Sam Rainsy who he said had lost

Sihanoukville, the Kingdom’s most famous beach destination for tourists, is seemingly becoming a paradise for Chinese investors as well.
The huge influx of Chinese investors has caused property values to rise, especially the price of land, which has nearly doubled in some places near

US President Donald Trump on Friday appointed W Patrick Murphy as the new US Ambassador to Cambodia, replacing incumbent William A Heidt.
A press release posted on the White House’s website said nominee W Patrick Murphy is currently acting principal deputy assistant secretary at

It was dubbed a success by caretaker prime minister Hun Sen after the electoral victory of his Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), which is poised to take all seats in the National Assembly.
But the July 29 national election has not been positively looked at by